Category SfP Bulletin September 1994

On Friday 19 August, Nobel prizewinner Linus Pauling died. In addition to his considerable contribution to science he was known for upholding the concept that science should be used as an instrument for peace and social equality. While this principle may be self-evident to readers of this bulletin, to voice it loudly and clearly during the McCarthy era, as he did, required no little courage.

Since there is an obituary notice further on in this bulletin, I merely want to add my personal remembrances. I met him only once, at a small conference in Pugwash, Nova Scotia. He was already over 80 at the time but appeared much younger, and was very confident and bold in the peace statement that he put forward at that meeting. But when we talked outside of the sessions, it was always about science. A measure of his liveliness and greatness was his keen interest in everything and everybody he didn’t previously know. His spirit of peace was infectious and remains as a legacy that we all inherit.

Again I should like to remind our readers of our arrangement with Peace Magazine. Science for Peace pays for eight pages in every issue, and we have representatives on the editorial board. In the July-August 1994 issue our section contains two articles on the question of how individuals who have committed crimes in support of oppressive regimes should be dealt with after these regimes have been overthrown, an article on the situation in Burundi, which has received less publicity than has the situation in neighbouring^.^ Rwanda but is scarcely less disturbing, and a discussion of the possibility of establishing an international criminal court The other articles should also be of interest to everyone concerned with the cause of peace. If you would like to submit an article for consideration for publication in this section, please send it to Peace Magazine, 736 Bathurst St, Toronto M5S 2R4, to the attention of the editors, Science for Peace section.

We urge members to subscribe to this important periodical. Annual subscription rates (six issues) are $17.50 (Canada), $20 (USA) and $25 (elsewhere).

We need volunteers to assist in the editing of our pages; see the requests for volunteers below.

I should also like to remind you of the working groups mentioned in the President’s report in the April issue of the Bulletin. If you think you could help in any way, with the activities of these working groups, please let us know.

In the November 1993 issue of this Bulletin (Vol. 13, No.3) we published an announcement of a computer simulation of nuclear missile launch procedures, developed by Dr. Craig Summers of Laurentian University. We subsequently received a letter from Jan Hansen of the International Peace Bureau expressing concern about this; he apparently feared that this simulation served to legitimate the idea of nuclear war. Since other readers may also have questioned the propriety of publishing this item, I should explain, as Dr. Summers and I have already done to Jan Hansen, that he had no such intention when he developed this program. On the contrary, it is intended to serve as a teaching tool in courses on the nature of conflict, and so to advance the cause of peace.

During the time that I have been editor of this Bulletin I have had the great good fortune to have had the help of Susan Krajnc, which has gone far beyond purely technical assistance. Her advice, suggestions, and occasional gentle criticism have aided me more than I can say. She has in effect been a co-editor. Susan has now left her position in the Science for Peace office to take up other challenges. I wish her every success, and shall certainly miss her.

We hope you all had a good summer, and we wish you an abundant harvest.

With the death of Linus Pauling the scientific community has lost one of its greatest members, a man who has been compared with such scientists as Isaac Newton, Marie Curie, and Albert Einstein.

Pauling’s contributions to science covered a wide range, and he will no doubt be remembered for different things by different people; Chemists will recall his studies on molecular. and crystal structure, summarized in his great book “The Nature of the Chemical Bond”, for which he received the Nobel Prize in 1954. For biologists his most impressive accomplishments are his contributions to understanding the structures of biological macromolecules, and the relationship between chemical structure and biological function. Among the general public he is probably best known for his ideas on the role of dietary factors in health and disease. Unlike his earlier ideas, these have not gained general acceptance among scientists.

Members of Science for Peace will honour him especially for his opposition during the 1950s to nuclear weapons tests, and his support for the cause of peace generally. This required great courage at that period. He was denounced as a communist sympathizer, and lost his American passport for a time. At the same time his theory of resonance was denounced in the USSR as idealistic and non-Marxist. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962.

As scientists, we should all be proud to have had such a man among us.

Science for Peace has just published a book written by eleven members of the Canadian Pugwash Group, entitled: World Security: the New Challenge.

This book, divided into four parts, deals with historical, political, social, finalicial and environmental questions relevant to planning well into the next century. Retail price $19.99; $12 to members.

A book launch will be held in the Chapter House of University College on Friday 21 October at 5 p.m. on which occasion you will be able to meet many of the authors as well as enjoy some good wine and excellent company.

The distributor for this book (produced for us by Dundurn Press) and for our other books (in our former series with Samuel Stevens) is now Dundurn Press, 2181 Queen St.E., Toronto M4E 1E5.

Office support. We need staff. If you can volunteer for half a day a week or even less this would be a great help. If you are interested, please call the office 978-3606.

Promoting Science for Peace Lectures. A team of two or three volunteers, working out of the SfP office in University College, could transform these important lectures into major public events. Help is needed during the academic terms in promoting the University College Lectures in Peace Studies (UCLIPS) in the media (press releases), within the university, and with other groups – peace, environment, social justice, etc. To volunteer, call 978-3606 (office) or 485-0990 (Eric Fawcett).